CASNR News Center

Cepica retiring as CASNR dean after 30-year career

Marvin Cepica retired Aug. 31 after three decades with Texas Tech University in a variety of academic and administrative posts, most recently as dean of the university’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

As dean, Cepica oversaw the academic lives of more than 1,400 graduate and undergraduate students. Under his leadership, the college’s endowment fund increased to $32 million and he presided over the dedication of a new state-of-the-art $17 million Animal and Food Sciences building.

Talented Group. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources currently ranks twenty-eighth in size among the nation’s 130 universities with agricultural sciences and natural resources programs. Today, it has $13.6 million in annual research funding.

“The students, faculty and staff here are among the best in the nation,” Cepica said. “It’s been my pleasure to serve as dean for such a dedicated and talented group.”

Long Career. Cepica began his career as a high school agricultural science teacher in Graham and Dimmitt. He joined Texas Tech in 1977 as a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Education and Agricultural Engineering.

He then served in various faculty and administrative capacities, including professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications, and Executive Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Cepica became interim dean in 2003. He was confirmed in the position in 2004.

Top Awards. He won a Professional Agricultural Workers of Texas Education Award in 1996. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association in 2000, and a Distinguished Service Award from the Texas FFA in 2005.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from Texas Tech. His doctorate in agricultural education is from Oklahoma State University.